Oti Mabuse chats with Irish Country Magazine Editor Klara Heron on what happens behind the scenes of DWTS Ireland.
Since joining the Dancing With The Stars Ireland judging line up this year, it feels as though Oti Mabuse has always been there. As Head Judge, it has been her role to give contestants constructive feedback, while also bolstering them for their next performance. She shares how she found the balance.
“I didn’t want to come in all guns blazing, showing what I know. I wanted to come in and treat every single celebrity as though I want each and every one of them to go to the final. That’s my job. I see myself as a mentor and a guide, leading with kindness.”
She adds: “I want the show to feel honest and genuine. And the producers are really good with that, they encourage us to say what you see.”
Judging aside, Oti has found friendship and community among her fellow DWTS Ireland judges, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne. While they discuss work backstage, they also make sure to leave room for some fun too.
“We will discuss the scores – we don’t want to have the same scores, so we check what each other is doing. Not influencing, but it would be very boring if it was all the same. Brian is marking all of the mistakes, whereas Karen is like I’m not looking at all of the mistakes, and I’m in between and Arthur is like, ‘I’m going high’ and I’m like ‘Go for it’. The chemistry and the good vibes between us is genuine.”
Oti recounts a night they spent in Dublin gay bar, The George.
“It was incredible. I was like wow – drag queens, show tunes, heaven! We were singing Defying Gravity to the top of our lungs. The whole judging panel was there, some contestants, stylists, assistants, and then the creative team and producers were there.”
Oti explains that being over in Ireland is a world away from the paparazzi and media circus that surrounded Strictly.
“It’s about trust and we can trust that we will go to a bar or a pub and it’s not going to end up in the newspaper. Strictly is such a different would where you couldn’t walk down the street and go to a gay bar and that not be all over the papers the next day. Everyone is so much more relaxed here, it’s not as intense. Brian was drinking water with lemon but if that was the UK someone could easily say, ‘Oh he was drinking’.
“Here, people are genuinely nice and they like the show and it’s very trusting. You couldn’t do that in the UK because Strictly is a machine.”
The full interview with Oti Mabuse can be found in the March|April issue of Irish Country Magazine. On shelves now. Find your nearest stockist here.
